There is no logical explanation for why he'd now be saying it was online only, if he had talked to someone on the phone. It seems obvioius to me he was lying before when he said he talked to her, and he's lying now when he says he was the victim of a hoax. The only think i'm really interested in is WHY he lied then and why he's lying now. I am guessing there will be alot more lies before the truth is uncovered.

This thing is pretty crazy and i have trouble following the timeline and all the differnent things.

That said, i just believe him for some reason. Obviously he lied about stuff, but i dont think he was maliciously lying. I feel like he was lying because he was uncomfortable or had a difficult time explaining that it was an online relationship only. Perhaps friends/family questioned him about the relationship and because he so desperately wanted to believe it was real he made things up, like talking on the phone or meeting the girl in order to appease his critics.

I personally worked with a guy who did that. Told EVERYONE he had cancer, us, his roommates (who were also his co-workers), his church, I think even his parents. Had people offering to pick him up from the doctor's after his chemo treatments and what not. His church was even raising money for him.

Eventually his roommate/co-worker called his doctor to ask how his progression was going. And his doctor was like wtf, he doesn't have cancer!

After I heard about that, I never saw him at work again. I guess he had to move out of state and change his name.

Since we dont know the facts obviously this is all just speculation. I tend to agree with your overall point. I mean its hard to pinpoint exactly what he did wrong if he was in fact not the victim. That being said , if i told everybody i had cancer, and raised alot of money from family and friends (and fans if i had them), is that ok? Im having a hard time thinking he did nothing wrong if this indeed was all his own making, even though it didnt "hurt" anyone.

The money was raised by another group to support the sad Irish fan seen on TV during the bowl game. They picked leukemia because of Manti's GF to be the charity.

Manti had nothing to do with the actually fund raiser. he didn't go around saying "oh give money to the cancer that killed my snuffaluffagus".

UPDATE: Sad Irish Fan would like all supporters of the campaign to know that our goal has been, and will continue to be, to fight against leukemia & lymphoma and the terrible effects these diseases cause people every day. Recently, it has been brought to our attention that a member of the football team known to many to be negatively impacted by leukemia, may have been the victim of an elaborate hoax. While the details are still unclear and unknown to us, the Sad Irish Fan campaign will continue fighting against the disease which causes tens of thousands of deaths each year in the US alone. We thank everyone who has supported the campaign and stands with us in our mission.

__________________When life gives you paper jams, turn them into paper footballs!

ILB is pretty low down on our priorities. Add to that the fact that he looked awful against an NFL-style offense in the championship game, and i dont know why we'd waste a 2nd round pick on a guy with so many question marks. I'm positive there are 10-15 other players we could get in the later rounds who have simliar abilities without the baggage.

Maybe he only looked so aweful because it was right after the inital, inital story broke?

This thing is pretty crazy and i have trouble following the timeline and all the differnent things.

That said, i just believe him for some reason. Obviously he lied about stuff, but i dont think he was maliciously lying. I feel like he was lying because he was uncomfortable or had a difficult time explaining that it was an online relationship only. Perhaps friends/family questioned him about the relationship and because he so desperately wanted to believe it was real he made things up, like talking on the phone or meeting the girl in order to appease his critics.

But he very well might just be insane.

Actually when you first fall in love with someone there is a chemical reaction in your brain that makes you kind of loopy.

__________________When life gives you paper jams, turn them into paper footballs!

His original version of the relationship was: He physically met her, talked to her on the phone every day, and also communicated with her online.

His current story is it was online-only and it was a hoax and he's embarrassed.

He's at fault for lying - best case scenario, he lied about meeting her and lied about talking to her on the phone every day in a tearful interview about his (imaginary) girlfriend and real grandmother dying on the same day. which is pretty dispicable and dishonors his grandmother in my opinion.

Worst case (and probably most likely scenario), he made the entire thing up for reasons which are unknown.

I feel like the only reason he would go back and say it was online only is out of sheer embarrassment.

If I got attached to someone and then they rejected me in the most abhorrent way possible (faking death), I'd probably lie to cover it up too. Difference is I'm just some schmoe and he's a Division I, high media football player. He had to know this would come out at some point.

I feel embarrassed for the guy. Fell in love with a person on the net without ever verifying she was legit. Naive guy to say the least, but I cringe at having to endure this press storm hitting him.

__________________ "So let me get this straight. We have the event of the year on TV with millions watching around the world... and people want a punt, pass, and kick competition to be the halftime entertainment?? Folks, don't quit your day jobs."- Matty